Bracewell & Giuliani Expands Public Finance and Public Law Practices in San Antonio with Local Legal Notables

SAN ANTONIO— Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced today that Jane H. Macon, Michael D. Bernard, Blakely L. Fernandez, and William T. Avila will join its San Antonio office as partners, working in the areas of public finance, public law, corporate law, and litigation.

“Jane is a legend in the public finance and public law arenas,” said Partner Ben Brooks, co-head of the public finance practice. “She will definitely help us make a strong mark in the San Antonio and South Texas Region. We have been looking to expand in San Antonio and Jane, Michael, Blakely, and Bill are strong additions, along with Carey Troell who joined us earlier this year,” added Brooks.

“The addition of Jane, Michael, Blakely, and Bill will strengthen our public entities practice as well as the San Antonio office,” said Bracewell Managing Partner, Mark C. Evans. "Each of them brings tremendous experience; I know that their insights will be invaluable to our clients."

Macon focuses on public law, public finance, administrative law, public and private partnerships, real estate, zoning, platting, condemnation, municipal bonds, and economic development. From 1977-1983, she served as City Attorney of the City of San Antonio, the first woman to hold this position. She currently serves as chair of Siebert Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: SIEB).

Bernard currently serves as the San Antonio City Attorney, a position he has held since 2005. In this role he serves as the chief legal advisor to the City Council, City management and all City departments. His office is responsible for handling civil litigation on behalf of the City in state and federal courts, drafting and reviewing ordinances and contracts, and, in general, ensuring that City officials receive sound advice and counsel on legal issues. Before joining the City, Bernard served as the First Assistant District Attorney for Bexar County. Bernard will focus his practice on public law, public finance, energy, and litigation.

Fernandez has served as developer's counsel, corporate counsel, bond counsel, underwriters’ counsel, and special disclosure counsel in a variety of public/private financings. She is experienced in traditional bond financings and corporate financings and acts as general counsel to public and private entities. Fernandez has represented clients, both public and private, in the public procurement process, environmental regulation, Public Information Act determinations, public private partnerships, and mixed use development projects.

Avila’s practice focuses on public finance law. He has closed approximately 1,000 transactions, totaling more than $50 billion in aggregate principal amount of municipal bond transactions as bond counsel, underwriters' counsel, issuer's counsel, and trustee's counsel for a variety of public infrastructure and improvement projects.

Bracewell’s public finance group has undergone brisk growth since 2012, now with 30 lawyers, including partners in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Washington, D.C. They serve as bond counsel for issuers in Texas and the southwest and represent underwriters, trustees, third-party credit providers, and borrowers in conduit financings. In addition, they are well-known participants in the legislative and regulatory process as it impacts public finance issues in both Austin and Washington, D.C.

The San Antonio office, which recently moved and expanded into the Bank of America building at 300 Convent, has practitioners focused on labor, litigation, immigration, public law, corporate law, and public finance. The addition of Macon, Bernard, Fernandez, and Avila expands the number of partners in the San Antonio office to 12.